Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Co-Axial Black Dial 45.5mm Watch Review
Today we are reviewing a fantastic Omega maritime watch, the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600m Co-Axial Chronometer watch. This watch pays homage to Omega’s dive watch heritage and uses new innovations and style that prove Omega can compete with their eternal rival Rolex when it comes to dive watches.
In this Omega Planet Ocean 600m Co-Axial review, we are going to cover the following:
- History of Omega’s Dive Watches
- The Planet Ocean Collection
- The specifics on this watch: Case, Dial, Bezel, Movement, Functions
- The Story Behind James Bond and the Planet Ocean Collection
- Notable Wearers of Planet Ocean Watches
- How to buy the watch featured in this article
So, let’s get started. Here is the history behind Omega’s love with the Sea.
Omega’s History with the Sea
Many years before Omega went to space, they had a strong desire to explore the sea. During a time when the world was beginning serious ocean exploration, Omega stepped in and played a significant role.
Of course, as our planet is two-thirds water, the mysteries never ceased.
Omega has continued to innovate and help deepsea divers with the important task of keeping time underwater with incredible accuracy.
Here is a brief past-to-present timeline of important moments in Omega’s maritime history.
1932 – The Omega Marine
The Omega Marine was the FIRST ever divers watch intended for commercial use. They did tests in Lake Geneva at a depth of 73 meters.
The watch was remarkable for its time, so much so that inventor of the Bathysphere (a unique spherical deep-sea submersible), Carles William Beebe, publicly stated that the Omega Marine was a ‘true progress for watchmaking science’.
1957 – The Seamaster 300
The arrival of the first Seamaster, and the beginning of an iconic collection. The Omega Seamaster 300 was the first professional diver’s watch. It went on to be the watch for the British Royal Navy in 1968.
Two divers from the British Royal Navy, both of whom were wearing a Seamaster 300, ended up establishing a world record for simulated diving at 365m.
1970 – The Seamaster 600
Jacques Yves Cousteau – a French naval officer, explorer, scientist, researcher, photographer, filmmaker, conservationist, innovator, and author – wore the Seamaster 600 “the Ploprof” during a procession of diving endurance experiments.
1981 – The Big Blue
“The Human Dolphin” Jacques Mayol set a freediving world record of 101m wearing a Seamaster 120 “The Big Blue”. What an incredible feat this was for not only Mayol and Omega, but mankind as well.
1993 – The Professional
Omega introduced their Seamaster Professional 300m, which went on to become a classic in the world of dive watches.
1995 – Peter Blake
Omega takes on the popular American Cup legend and round-the-world skipper Sir Peter Blake as a brand ambassador.
2005 – Planet Ocean
The dawn of the Seamaster Planet Ocean collection. A collected that gives respect to the legends of ocean exploration and Omega’s distinguished maritime history.
The Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M Collection
Omega introduced the Seamaster Planet Ocean collection in 2005. The new collection was created to pay tribute to Omega’s legacy with the sea.
Nowadays, the Planet Ocean collection is legendary itself.
In 2016, the Seamaster Planet Ocean collection went through a Master Co-Axial Revolution. New Planet Oceans models were equipped with Master Co-Axial calibre movement and resistance to magnetic fields up to 15,000 gauss. They were able to achieve the META’s Master Chronometer certification, thereby making Planet Ocean the first watch in history that has resistance to magnetic fields of 15,000 gauss, resistance to water at depths of 2,000ft (600m), a helium release valve, and a chronometer certification all in one.
Planet Ocean, and more specifically, the watch we are reviewing today, is cutting edge. The Master Chronometer certification, incredibly innovative designs, and state-of-the-art materials put this watch in the top of its class.
Now, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty on the watch we are reviewing today – the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600m Co-Axial Chronometer 45.5mm Case, Black Dial, Black Bezel and Black Rubber Strap Watch.
45.5mm Stainless Steel Case
This Planet Ocean 600m watch has a 45.5mm stainless steel case. This is the largest size offered in the Planet Ocean collection. The watch sits markedly on the wrist. So if you are a person who likes a big watch, this model is a great option.
The height of the watch is impressive as well. It reaches 17.25mm high, which is mostly due to the mechanisms which allow it to handle extreme underwater depths.
The stainless steel case has a sophisticated finishing, combining both polished and straight brushed techniques.
Then you have the domed scratch resistant sapphire crystal which also has anti-reflective treatment on both sides. So not only is this watch nearly impossible to scratch (nearly meaning only a diamond could do it), the dial is also always visible no matter what lighting condition you are in. Most of the time, you won’t even notice the sapphire crystal is there. We love that about this watch.
In terms of its weight, being that it is stainless steel and of large size, it does have a substantial feel to it. It gives the sense that you are wearing a watch made of quality materials – and for good reason because if you wear this Planet Ocean 600m, you are.
On the right side of the case you have a self-locking screw down crown, which is the norm for the best water resistant dive watches. The screw down crown controls the time functions.
Screw down crown functions:
The crown has 3 positions
Normal Position or Position 1:
This is the normal position when it is against the case to ensure the watch is water resistant.
Pull the crown out one click and you can wind it up if it has not been worn for 60 hours or more.
Position 2:
Pull the crown out one click from the normal position and you can set the time zone and date. You can turn the crown forward or backward, which will move the hour hand in either direction by 1-hour intervals. If you turn the hour hand past midnight, the date will change (both forward and backward).
Position 3:
Here you can control the hours, minutes and seconds. Once you pull it into position 3, the seconds hand will stop moving. Twist the crown forwards or backward. Furthermore, to synchronize the seconds, push the crown back to position 1, coinciding with a specific time signal.
Helium Escape Valve
On the upper left side of the case, you have the helium escape valve. This is a decompression system which allows the helium to escape the watch after saturation deepsea dives. This function is essential when a professional diver is in the pressure chamber decompressing. When the diver is decompressing to remove the helium from their bloodstream, they can also remove the helium from their Planet Ocean watch to ensure that it has no issues when reaching the surface.
This is an essential function for long-term underwater workers (think building bridges) and crude oil exploration, just to name a couple of jobs that need a watch like this.
Both the screw down crown and helium escape valve having knurling so they offer all the grip you’ll need to easily manage its functions. This is especially important during dives.
Water Resistance
The Omega Planet Ocean 600M watch is water resistant to 600 meters (2000 feet or 60 bar) as the name suggests.
Transparent Case Back
The case back has a sapphire exhibition window. The movement is aesthetically pleasing, so we appreciate this transparency by Omega…something that Rolex forgoes.
Black Ceramic Dial
The dial is crafted from black ceramic. It has a sleek look which is further enhanced by Omega’s trademark Liquidmetal™ numbers and scaling.
There’s an elegant date window at the three, with Arabic numerals for the 12, 6 and 9. Then you have twelve hour markers, which are all polished, faceted and rhodium plated. In between the hour markers is a minute railtrack.
The watch has bright lights, as the applied indexes are generously coated with white Super-LumiNova which emits a blue light in dark settings. However, the minute hand and dot on the diving bezel glow green instead. This was done to help make it easier for divers to keep track of their time underwater.
Below the 12, the words Omega, Seamaster and ‘Professional’ are printed in silver, orange, and while, respectively. And just above the six reads CO-AXIAL, CHRONOMETER and 660M/2000ft, all in white lettering.
Overall the dial is super clean. There is no clutter, and it’s a watch that gets right down to business, providing the essentials in a magnificent way. The dial pulls a lot of inspiration from the Planet Ocean series as a whole, beautifully capturing aspects of the first Seamaster, the 300.
Unidirectional Rotating Black Bezel
The black bezel uses Omega’s impressive ceramic, just like the dial. This ceramic bezel is extremely hard, which means the bezel is almost impossible to scratch. Just like the sapphire crystal glass, you’d need a diamond to be able to scratch it.
Moreover, the bezel rotates unidirectionally.
A unidirectional rotating bezel, which means it only rotated in one direction, is best for divers as they can’t accidentally turn it the wrong direction, which could make them miscalculate their dive time. And having a bezel that rotates is essential as well as it makes it much easier to measure an elapsed time.
Black Rubber Strap
The strap is black rubber, and it perfectly matches the dial and bezel.
The rubber has an anti-bacterial treatment so it remains clean and bacteria free.
All in all, we are a huge fan of the rubber strap, as it is comfortable and it completes the look of this diver’s watch beautifully.
The Clasp
The claps has a twin-trigger actuation, so it has maximum security. What’s more, is the clasp has one of the best deployment dive extensions in the game. This isn’t just useful for divers, it is also useful for a suit jacket or winter coat.
Adjusting the length of the strap
You can easily adjust the length of the strap, all you have to do is free the longer strap section from the clasp’s two slideways, adjust it and reinsert it into the two slideways.
In-House 8500 Calibre Movement
The Omega Planet Ocean 600m Co-Axial calibre 8500 is an in-house movement and it is a certified chronometer timepiece. The beautiful movement is visible through the transparent caseback.
More specs on the movement:
- Self-winding movement with Co-Axial escapement.
- Free sprung-balance
- 2 barrels mounted in series
- Automatic winding in both directions
- Bridges and the oscillating mass with exclusive Geneva waves in arabesque
- Power reserve of 60 hours
For those who don’t know what a chronometer watch is, it is a watch that has gone through rigorous precision tests and received a certificate from COSC. So, a chronometer watch will remain accurate in spite of motion, variations, temperature, humidity, and air pressure.
This COSC automatic chronometer pulls ahead of conservative Rolex when it comes to the technology of movement.
James Bond & Planet Ocean
The Planet Ocean is “the perfect watch for the world’s most beloved spy”.
Since 1995, James Bond has worn an Omega Seamaster in every single film.
Lindy Hemming, who is an Oscar-winning costume designer, was the one who cast 007’s watch in GoldenEye and sparked this “bond” between 007 and Omega. Hemming stated, “I was convinced that Commander Bond, a naval man, a diver and a discreet gentleman of the world would wear the Seamaster with the blue dial.”
Omega eventually created some very special limited edition watches in honor of 007, such as the Seamaster Diver 300m Commander’s Watch.
James Bond Films and Omega Seamasters worn:
Casino Royale (2006), Daniel Craig sports a Seamaster Diver 300m Co-Axial AND a Planet Ocean 600m Co-Axial
Quantum of Solace (2008), 007 wears a classic black dial and bezel Seamaster Planet Ocean 600m Co-Axial.
Skyfall (2012), Bond wears another Planet Ocean 600m and an Aqua Terra, both of which are Omega Co-Axial caliber’s.
Specter (2015), Bond chooses a Seamaster 300 Spectre Limited Edition with a rare lollipop seconds hand and black and grey Nato strap AND an Omega Aqua Terra 150m.
Other Noteworthy Celebrities Who Wear Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Watches
George Clooney and Michael Phelps are often wearing and advertising Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean. Michael Phelps even has his own limited edition Planet Ocean model.
Where to buy this Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600m Co-Axial Chronometer Steel 45.5mm Black Dial, Bezel and Strap watch?
The Seamaster Planet Ocean 600m Co-Axial Chronometer watch featured in this article is now for sale online or at our showroom in Boca Raton.
Pre-owned Omega 232.32 Seamaster Planet Ocean Co-Axial Black Dial Watch FOR SALE
Diamonds By Raymond Lee
Diamonds by Raymond Lee is Boca Raton’s most recommended sales and service centers for watches, diamonds, and high-end jewelry. We have over 30 years of experience selling fine certified luxury watches and in that time we have built an unparalleled reputation for fair, quality dealings in South Florida.
Our goal is to meet the needs of our customers at our Boca Raton retail store and online, and to provide our community with the best possible experience. We combine value, quality, and cost with the remarkable ability to meet and understand the needs of the people we serve.
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